THE PHANTOM PAIN: 2ND TAKE

Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.

Metal Gear Solid V The Phantom Pain is truly one of the best games I have played. I writing again of it because of the impact it has had on me. I put it down for a little while and played other games but my mind kept going back to it. Back to the story, the visuals, the characters, the music. The game is visual poetry.

Subtle things like the screenshot above add so much to the game that not a lot of games appreciate. As you can see in the photo above, as the player rides in their helicopter to missions and their base, you can look around the helicopter and see photos. Photos of comrades and memories to look back on in the game. See everything you’ve accomplished, the allies you have made.

There is an abundance to which you can customize your experience. Create your own logo with titles that you’ve accumulated during missions. If you bond with D-Dog is high enough you can customize his look. Give him a new eye, or change his color. It’s all up to you. Modify your weapons to suit your purpose, whether you want to run and gun or be quiet and stealthy.

The game features a beautiful open world with plants and animals and people all different from one another. The weather changes are nicely done, rain and thunder, clouds and sand storms will all become part of your experience. Day turns to night not in an instant, but in a seamless fashion.

Metal Gear Online is another fun feature. You choose from 3 classes and create your own Diamond Dogs soldier. There are 3 game modes to choose from and they feature music for all of the games! The maps look great and feature the cuban base from Ground Zeroes to play on.

The music is one thing I keep coming back to in the game. If you were sitting back watching me play, you’d frequently hear The Man Who Sold The World song playing in the background. That or Quiet’s theme and Sins of the Father. Both of very touching and beautifully done. It’s what is to be expected with Metal Gear Solid, which has always had great music attached.

For people wondering about this game and on the edge after a very short Ground Zeroes game or the 9 hour cut scene that is Guns of The Patriots, your worries are at an end. The game took me around 5 or 6 days to complete just the story. But there are Side-Ops to complete that give the game even more length and fun. Besides, when you’re “done” with the game, you’re not really done. There are more missions to complete and you can invade other players bases and even try to steal a nuke. The game is difficult and oftentimes unforgiving. But it’s what you should expect out of a Metal Gear Solid title. The game is full of references to it’s other games, so it’s perfect for a veteran of the series and to newcomers who want to know what it’s all about. If you are considering getting it, I suggest you play through Snake Eater and Ground Zeroes. Each are available on consoles, I play them on my Xbox 360. Peace Walker is also available, though is optional as you can learn what unfolds in that game with cassette tapes in this title.

This game is something that I will cherish and replay again and again. I would definitely consider it on par with Metal Gear Solid 3 Snake Eater which is my favorite game of all time. Between the story and music and the visuals, this is a game that should not be missed. I hope you enjoy my review and if you have any questions, please don’t be afraid to ask. Thank you for reading!